Power Sharing as a Strategy to Resolve Political Crises in Africa
Power Sharing as a Strategy to Resolve Political Crises in Africa
- Michael BrattonMichael BrattonDepartment of Political Science, Michigan State University
- , and Peter PenarPeter PenarDepartment of Political Science, Michigan State University
Summary
Power sharing is often offered as a strategy to resolve political crises. In contrast to power capture and power division, power sharing entails exercising power in cooperation with rival groups. The outcome of power sharing largely rests on the purpose and context of the agreement. Power sharing has proven effective at attenuating political violence and providing stability when enacted to guide a transition from white-minority to black-majority rule in former settler states (e.g., South Africa) or to bring persistent civil wars to an end (e.g., Sierra Leone and Burundi). However, in the context of an election dispute, power sharing fails to solve the underlying concerns that contribute to election-related conflict. Although power sharing may attenuate or end violence, the outcome is poor reconciling election winners and losers and deepening democratic practices (e.g., Kenya and Zimbabwe). Recognizing the failure of power sharing after election disputes, external mediators—particularly in West Africa (e.g., Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia)—have tended to emphasize maintaining normal constitutional processes rather than power-sharing settlements.
Subjects
- Contentious Politics and Political Violence
- Governance/Political Change
- History and Politics
- Political Institutions
- World Politics